Omaha daily bee., 1887-12-26
HUNTING FOR BEE TREES.
How stores of Honey Are found in the
Western Wilderness,

How Stores of Honey Are found in the
Western Wilderness.
New York Independents: In the great
forest west of the Mississippi the wild
bees swarm in countless numbers. feed
ing on the luxurious vegetation which
skirts and intersocts the prairies all
along the alluvial bottoms of the rivers,
andseemng to fulfill literally the bible
description of "a land flowing with milk
and honey" Hollow trees are taken
possession of by them and honey stored
in them in great quantities. If nothing
disturbs them, they remain in their
ing up stores of honey for their own use,
and as is often the case, for the bear or
white men in the long run. The
hunter who make business of
collecting the honey are the most mes
ciless enimies that the little creaturer
have. Unlike Bruin, who discovers n
hive of honey by chance, or through
the aid of his sensitive nose, the bee
hunters carry on their work systemati-
cally, watching the habits of the little
creatures while gathering honey from
the flowers, and then following them as
they return to their home through the
air. After an experience of year or
two in the business, the hunters can
home OF the bees, Notwithstanding the
fact that the hive is often situated in u
dense forest, and in trees where no one
would ever thinkof looking for honey.
Like most otherw Id creatures, the bees
betray their hlding-plaee br their own
actions.
The hunters, before starting out in
quest of the rich booty, provide them
selves with the necessary equipments.
These cOnsitt of axes, rifles, matches
and II small piece of honeycomb. The
rifles are carried along for their own
protection, in case the hunters should
be hunted by enemies other than honey
bees. When an open glade near the
edge of the forest is reached. the piece
of honeycomb is placed on u low bush,
where it can plainly be seen by the pass
ing bees. Its sweet aroma quickly fills
the air around it and attracta the little
hOney-gatherers toward it. Like a
miser who has saddenly discovered Il
treasure of gold, they dive down into
the little cells and begin to satiate their
appetite. Then, without suspecting the
trap set for them, nor stopping to in
quire about the strange phenomenon of
honeycomb growing on bush, they
dart away through the forest to deposit
their load in the hive.
This is the hunters opportunity. No
ticing the direction in which the bees
fly, they quickly start in pursuit, keep
ing the little creatures in sight with
difficulty. Usually an old experienced
bee hunter takes the lead, and MS eagle
like eyes can detect the small black
specs in the air when the others have
entirely lost sight of them. Through
dense clusters of brambles and over
wet and boggy ground they hurry, com
al tr1, ,,1,u lnl In, f1n olnu, md
mindful of all disagreeable surround
ings. They have to make a bee-line
through the woods and not stop to con-
slider whether there is better travelling
in another, but longer. direction.
Even the most expert leaders of hunt
ing parties will sometimes lose sight of
the game, and the bees will escape with
out betraying the locality of their
homes. After wandering about in the
woods for sufficient time, searching
attentively on every tree for a sign of
one of the little creatuoes, the leader
becomes satisfied that he cannot find
the hive without resorting to another
trick. A small box with glass top is
then produced, within which are num-
ber of bees, which the hunters have
caught round the hOneycomb before en-
tering the woods. One of these is
allowed to escape from the box Gnd the
direction which it takes Immediately
followed by the party. a walk of several
minutes is then kept up, the leader keep
ing his eyes liked on certain tree
which he mas marked in the distance.
The others of the party glance about
them to discover signs OF the tree in
which the hive is hidden.
A second bee is then allowed to escape
from the box. Instead of flying in the
same direction taken by the first one, it
darts OIL to the right and pursues
course directly opposite to that adopted
by its mate. This would be misleading
to an inexperienced hunter, and he
would conclude naturally that either
the bees were from different hives, or
the old saying about bees flying directly
to their homes when liberated Is all
"bose."
The leader of the hunting party, how
ever, understands the mute language OF
the little insects. The party has passed
the tree containing the hive and coun-
termarch is Immediately ordered.
Double precaution isnOw taken to locate
the exact spot Of the hive, and in very
short time this 10 done.
But quite frequently it happens that
the hunters, when in the immediate
neighborhood of the tree, are unable to
distinguish the right one from the
others. The entrance to the bee castle
Is several feet above the ground and the
eyes Of the hunters are unable to see IT
unless attracted by the bees coming in
and out in numbers. The third stop OF
the hunt is then taken, and the leader
knows that this cannot fail. A fire is
kindled and piece of honeycomb
placed upon warm stone. In few
minutes the honey begins TO melt, and
the smell OF it permcates the air
throughout the forest, reaching even
the bees in their snug home, AS re-
suit, the whole colony OF bees begin TO
swarm out OF thcircitadel and fly around
tha fra from which the sMeot odOr